Morgan Stanley Reviews in New York City, NY Area

Pros

I haven't met anyone who wasn't helpful and friendly--I can't say that about everywhere.
The training is good and ongoing. Lots of support from the managers.

Cons

We need more space the office is a little crowded. Too many meetings! The technology integration is hard to deal with at times because of the merger between Morgan Stanley and Smith Barney

Advice to Senior Management

None

Pros

- Salary can vary widely between employees, can be competitive
- High caliber of technology professionals
- Very friendly to work from home
- Very friendly to helping maintain work life balance

Cons

- Salary can vary widely between employees, can be low
- Can get buried in process since becoming a bank
- Workload can cause work life balance issues if you are not careful
- Deferred bonus compensation
- Base salary limitations according to rank

Advice to Senior Management

More focus on hiring where the best employees are found, reduction in process; focus on getting the job done, out source simple tasks not complex ones

Pros

Morgan Stanley cache still carries weight in opening doors and soliciting new clients. Intellectual capital is significant and readily available.

Cons

Management lacks specific direction to attain or complete designated goals. Cronyism rules the day and if you are not part of the clique expect to be trivialized and moved relocated.

Advice to Senior Management

Focus on long term solutions instead of short term fixes. Reevaluate hiring practices being a buddy does not guarantee job success and alienates the people in the trenches

Pros

networking is easy, which is a plus
people are smart and willing to teach
friendly environment
up to date tools and IT support

Cons

promotions are based on seniority not performance
very competitive and from time to time to, an unfair promotion process
bonuses

Advice to Senior Management

invest into your employees
stop having so many meetings without including your staff
stop micromanaging and create a relationship with your staff

Pros

Morgan Stanley provides great work experience that would prepare your for future positions.

Cons

The downside of working at Morgan Stanley, is the salaries are not competitive with employers within the same field in similar company.

Pros

I was given lots of opportunities for success. Was given the chance to change jobs and take on new roles. Good partnership between the business and controllers.

Cons

After working there for a number of years I feel I have become underpaid as compaired to the compitition. They have made strides to correct but its not enough.

Advice to Senior Management

To often we have allowed people to leave Morgan Stanley, only to hire someone else with a higher salary and less knowledge of Morgan Stanley. We should be trying harder to keep the people we have invested time and energy in.

Pros

Exposure to myriad aspects of investing, good training, supportive culture, good work/life balance. Town Hall meetings allowed employees to feel updated, and the MS Today home page helped to "shrink" the size of the organization and make it feel more local.

Cons

Challenges typical to very large organizations -- efficiency can suffer b/c of many layers. Comp not always competitive relative to smaller firms focused on just one area of investing (PE, hedge funds, asset management).

Advice to Senior Management

Pride of association has suffered in recent years due to overall performance relative to industry peers, so it's important for employees to see evidence that Morgan Stanley is still in the fight.

Pros

feel like getting a lot of responsability

Cons

no open communication and very uncertain as a place to work

Pros

They have very Competitive salary and benefits.
There is lots of technology to get your hands on.
Managment is clear and direct on their expectations.

Cons

Constantly changing environment leaving you worried about your longevity with the company.
There is no positive feeback when you do a good job.

Pros

I would say the culture.

Cons

I would say the size.

Advice to Senior Management

To be competative in the market place salary wise. Also cutting ties with lower end producers shows a lack of overrall commitment to their success.